Protector for railway-switches.



Patented Dec. 23, 1902- J. c. DICKS. PRUTECTUR FOB RMLW'AY SWITCHES.

.[Application filed June 16, 1902.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. DICKS, OF WINTERTO N, NEW YORK.

PROTECTOR EOR RAI LWA'Y-SWlTCH-ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,68 6. dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed June 16, l902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. DIOKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winterton,in the county of Sullivan and State of New which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in railway-switches; and the object is to sim-" plify and improve the existing art by providing a switch-protector whereby the switchbars are shielded from the deposits of snow and other debris which under other conditions might interfere with the proper work ing of the movable switch points or rails.

With these objects in view my invention consistsin the novel'construction of parts and their assemblage or aggroupment inoperative combinations, as will hereinafter be fully described and the novelty particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my improvements in the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of this specification, and whereinr Figure l is a plan view of the complete de' vice. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the track and the plates of the device.

In the drawings similar notations designate like parts throughout the illustrations.

Reference being bad to the drawings, A A designate the fixed rails of a straight track, B B the fixed rails of a diverging track, and O C the switch rails or points, controlling the entrance to either track. These several elements and parts may be of any. of the 'ap-. proved constructions common in the art. The switch rails or points are united at intervals by proper rods 1, the ends of which are fixed in posts or brackets 2, secured in any proper manner to the inner faces of the switch-rails. A switch-rod 3 is suitably connected with the switch-rails and by which the switch' is 'moved into the required positions. The butt e'nds of the switch-rails are disposed in connection to the ends of the main rails by any proper joint, as a, which indicates a loose knucklejoint engagement which permits the switch, with the plate, to be swung laterally in either direction, as indicated inFig. l of the drawlngs.

D designates a strong iron or steel plate set between the switch-rails and provided with Serialll'o. 111,940. (nommiem recesses 4 in its edges to set about the posts or brackets .2, as'indicated in Fig. l of the drawings. The plate D is movable with the switch and is secured in place by bolts 5, let through the plate and the flanges of the switch-rails.

It will be perceived that the plate D constitutes a complete protection and shield for all the rods connecting the switch-rails and prevents snow or other impediments hindering or interfering with the movement of the switch. Theplatealso effectually prevents the liability of the'switchman or other persons from getting their feet caught under the connecting-rods of the switch.

On the switch-stand side of the track is se cured a plate 6, laid on the projecting ends of the ties, with its inner edge bolted to the flange of the rail, as indicated at 7, and is provided with an extension 8, which covers the switch-rod 3, as shown. The plate D is formed with a downwardly-directed flange 9, which sets with its inner face against the end faces of the ties. At the other side of the track, on the projecting ends of the ties, is secured a plate 10, arranged with its inner edge on the rail-flange and is formed with a turndown flange 11, setting against theend faces of the ties. side plates make it easy to clean the snow from the sides of the track.

Having thus described myinvention,' what I claim is 1. A railway-switch protector, consisting of a plate arranged to cover the space between the switch-rails, and movable therewith.

2. A railway-switch protector comprising a plate arrangedto cover the space between the switch rails" and vmovable therewith, and

plates secured on each sideof the track over the ends of the ties.

3. Arailway-switch protect-or,comprisin g a plate arranged to cover the space between the o. DIOKS.

It will be perceived that these 

